Early Literacy Buffet 2012 - A Success!

On Saturday, February 25, 2012, approximately eighty service providers and community partners gathered at the San Francisco Main Library for the SF Early Literacy Network’s annual Early Literacy Buffet Honoring Early Childhood Educators. The festive morning of professional development, nourishment, and gratitude began with a hearty breakfast sponsored by SFPL and catered by the Mint Café, and a showcase of the many services provided by ELN members. Saroj Ghoting, national early literacy expert, gave a rousing research-based keynote, Supporting Early Literacy Through Powerful Interactions. After a brief tour of the Main Library’s Fisher Children’s Center, educators participated in two concurrent trainings. ELN members Catherine Aranda, Michele Callwood, Verónica Flores-Malagón, and Jo McConnell presented Building Playful Extensions With Books inspired by Hervé Tullet’s Press Here. Alli Cuentos and Lynne Maes led an interactive session, Playful Transitions in the Name of Early Literacy, and supported by The Neighborhood Mother Goose Singalong by Nina Crews. The event concluded with raffle prizes, distribution of the Certificate of Professional Development, and expression of our deepest appreciation.

Representing the San Francisco Public Library were Brian Castagne, Lyn Davidson, Christy Estrovitz, and Amy Perry.  ELN members included Catherine Aranda (Jumpstart), Janell Bolte (ELN co-founder and Non-profit Education Consultant), Michele Callwood (Raising A Reader), Alli Cuentos (Jamestown Community Center and Pulsing Word Consulting), Jude Deckenbach (First Book San Francisco), Verónica Flores-Malagón (Raising A Reader), Lynne Maes (Pulsing Word Consulting), and Jo McConnell (Raising A Reader).

Thank you to all of the participants and partners who made this event such a remarkable success. Brian isn't in any of the photos of the amazing Early Literacy Buffet because he was hard at work taking them - over 1000+ photographs! We narrowed them down to the 36 shots below (click on any photo to see a larger version and slide show option). We will soon post additional shots through a Flickr link so please check back (feel free to use any of the photos for non-profit purposes but please give credit/attribution).

Warm regards, Christy & Brian

Early Literacy Buffet registration filled up quickly.

SFPL Security warmly welcomes registered participants.

Jude Deckenbach and Janell Bolte make registration a breeze.

Educators mingle and nosh.

Special musical guests Robert Doerr and Ginger.

Christy Estrovitz welcomes all to the San Francisco Public Library.

Some of the many Library services provided to educators.

Library card: free access to a multitude of riches.

Janell Bolte and Christy Estrovitz, ELN co-founders, share the history and discuss the future.

The ELN loves to collaborate!

Catherine Aranda details Jumpstart's work in the Visitacion Valley, Mission, and Bayview communities.

Jo McConnell and Michele Callwood showcase the benefits of Raising A Reader's famous red bag.

Lynne Maes and Alli Cuentos unveil Pulsing Word Consulting services.

Saroj Ghoting, national early literacy expert, presents a playful and practical keynote.

Saroj engages educators in discussion of the newest techniques based on the latest research.

Saroj promotes playful practice.

Go forth and play!

Amy Perry and Janell Bolte show how it's done! They captivate the crowd with a rockin' read aloud of Pete the Cat.

Amy Perry, Early Literacy Bookmobile Librarian, and Lyn Davidson, Assistant Manager of  the Children's Center, provide a guided tour of the extensive early childhood library.

Catherine Aranda of Jumpstart, Michele Callwood, Jo McConnell, and Verónica Flores-Malagón of Raising A Reader partner up to present an engaging workshop.

 "Building Playful Extensions With Books" workshop inspired by Herve Tullet's Press Here. 

Educators pour over new copies (for them to keep) of Press Here.

Book inspired color and action game.

Participants create a new song inspired by Press Here.

Crafty educators at work.

Alli Cuentos, Jamestown Community Center, and Lynne Maes, Pulsing Word Consulting, present "Playful Transitions in the Name of Early Literacy."

Holding hands, making friends, and building skills. 

Small group activities and discussions.

Alli Cuentos uses music and movement to gather the group.

Music and motion brings everyone together.

Positive transition complete. Engaging new activity begins.

Raffle Time!

Lucky educator wins $90 Target gift card donated by Jumpstart.

Another raffle winner! Displaying the wealth of resources distributed to all participants plus her raffle prize of a bag chock full of fabulous new books donated by Project Read.

Jude Deckenbach, First Book San Francisco, distributes a Certificate of Professional Development  to each educator.

With our gratitude, each participant received a goody bag full of booklists and educational treats.

And what did participants think about the Buffet?

• Thank you for your support!
• What a great and inspiring resource!
• SFPL is wonderful!
• You Rock!
• Thank you for providing such a great opportunity to learn more about early literacy acquisition.
• This yearly program is awesome!
• I loved learning about early literacy through powerful interactions.
• Thank you for providing this opportunity for us to meet the experts and other educators. We learn together.
• Job well done!
• It helped my knowledge of early literacy in young children. I will use what I learned today to create curriculum that reflects the children’s literacy level.
• I feel renewed at a busy time of the year.